DoW Rare Cancers Resource and Community Development Award

The Rare Cancers Research Program Resource and Community Development Award is administered by the Defense Health Agency through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, an initiative within the U.S. Department of Defense that funds high-impact biomedical research. Established to address critical gaps in rare cancer research, the program reflects congressional priorities to improve outcomes for populations affected by cancers with low incidence rates. The Rare Cancers Research Program was initiated in 2020 and has received substantial federal appropriations to support innovative, collaborative, and translational research efforts that benefit service members, veterans, and the broader public. This funding opportunity is designed to support the development of research resources and clinical or preclinical datasets that address key deficiencies in rare cancer research infrastructure. The program specifically targets gaps such as the lack of shared research resources, insufficient communication and dissemination strategies, limited data-sharing infrastructure, and the need for improved therapeutic development and mechanistic understanding. Applicants are expected to propose projects that build platforms, repositories, or systems that facilitate collaboration and information exchange across the rare cancer research ecosystem. Funding supports projects that develop scalable and sustainable research platforms, including biospecimen repositories, centralized databases, patient registries, and omics-based datasets. The program also encourages the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to enhance discovery and clinical readiness. While preliminary data are not required, applicants must demonstrate strong scientific rationale and feasibility. Clinical research is permitted but must not include clinical trials, and all proposed work should aim to move beyond basic research toward translational impact. Applicants must incorporate robust community engagement, particularly through the inclusion of at least two patient advocates who are actively involved throughout the research lifecycle. These advocates must have lived experience with rare cancers and play integral roles in study design, implementation, and evaluation. Additionally, proposals must include detailed plans for dissemination and long-term sustainability of the developed resources, ensuring that outputs remain accessible and impactful beyond the funding period. Eligibility is broad, encompassing domestic and international organizations across public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. Independent investigators at all career stages may serve as principal investigators, provided they are affiliated with an eligible organization. Cost sharing is not required. Applications are submitted through a two-step process, beginning with a pre-application via eBRAP, followed by a full application through either eBRAP or Grants.gov, depending on the applicant type. The application process includes a comprehensive set of required components, such as project narratives, technical and lay abstracts, dissemination and sustainment plans, and detailed documentation of community engagement and patient advocate involvement. Applications undergo a rigorous two-tier review process, including peer review and programmatic review, with evaluation criteria focusing on impact, project design, personnel, community structure, and sustainability. Key deadlines include a pre-application submission due in August 2026 and a full application deadline in November 2026. Invitations to submit full applications are issued following pre-application review. Awards are expected to be announced after programmatic review in early 2027, with funding decisions contingent on merit and alignment with program priorities. The maximum period of performance is four years, and awards are anticipated to be finalized by September 2027.

Focus on high-impact unmet needs; integrate patient advocates early and meaningfully; emphasize sustainability and data sharing; align with platform development or AI/ML focus areas